Below are the key topics that will define the Cloud Computing World Forum 2012. Click each tab for details of related conference sessions:
 

 


For many businesses, cloud computing is all about the delivery of scalable, efficient and cost-effective applications. At the 2011 Cloud Computing World Forum we saw a number of companies showcasing novel applications, monitoring tools and software as a service (SaaS). 2012 will see even more sophisticated products being displayed, and much of our conference focus will relate to how to secure, maintain and improve your cloud applications.

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2011 may have become synonymous with a series of high-profile security breaches online, but 2012 is about shaping the cloud computing industry to ensure the problem is safe-guarded against as best as possible. Cybercrime has long been an issue for the digital world, but cloud computing providers are leading the way in developing security technology to combat the criminals, and the topic will once again be a focus for debate at the show.

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The number of cloud storage providers rocketed in 2011, and with it a number of issues related to security, data analysis and data protection. Data centre and storage professionals are working hard to improve and maintain cloud storage facilities, and we'll discover the latest industry trends at this year's forum.

We'll also be covering a more and more prominent topic associated with the issue of storage this year - big data. Regarded as one of the biggest challenges affecting the development of IT, the amount of data and content being used around the world on a daily basis is staggering, but is also leading to new analytics and Business Intelligence (BI) tools that are likely to feature heavily in line with cloud computing developments and innovation associated with The Internet of Things.

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There’s no denying the rise of the mobile cloud, with handheld devices having an increasingly large part to play in both our work and home lives. But with the development of cloud-based applications so suited to mobile, questions about speed, connectivity, safety and efficiency need to be addressed. And can tablets and smartphones realistically take over from desktops in the workplace? Who’s building the software and infrastructure that will allow us to successfully integrate our devices?

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Platform as a Service (PaaS) is widely regarded as cloud computing's flagship, allowing developers a space in which to work from while placing the most complex of infrastructure issues into the hands of the cloud service provider. But has 2012 proved this to be merely a utopian view of what cloud can do? Over the course of the two days, PaaS providers and case studies will be on hand to discuss the pros and cons and help decifer whether platform is right for your business.

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The overhaul of IT practices in the public sector has been a key feature of the last 12 months, especially in the UK. How governments now procure and distribute IT services is changing, and the Cloud Computing World Forum 2012 will provide a platform for public and private sector organisations to meet and discuss all the relevant issues.

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What was once a privilege for the biggest companies is now available to all, with start-up businesses and SMBs now profiting from using virtualized machines and virtual desktops to alternate their IT practices. More and more tools are becoming readily available for all manner of organisations, and virtualization is finally addressing one of the biggest problems for an IT infrastructure – practicality.

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With a market expected to reach $36 billion by 2016, communication tools in the cloud are big business. Whether it’s next-generation Contact Centres, Unified Communications or IP telephony, the Enterprise is becoming smarter; and the methods in which we reach out to customers and fellow employees becoming slicker. Expect the fusion of cloud and communication over the next 12 months to enhance these tools even further.

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The term 'social enterprise' is becoming increasingly blurred, but the principles remain compelling. The benefits of using social media for business are clear, but the challenges of developing a streamlined social ecosystem are just as prominent. We'll be focusing on the link between social business and cloud, mobile, communications and more.

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Customer Relationship Management (CRM) – We’re all looking for new ways to improve and streamline our customer relations. Now, thanks to the development of software and applications in the cloud, organisations are able to cut costs on in-house hardware and maintenance and gain real-time results. CRM has become one of the most accessible opportunities during the rise of SaaS, and the Cloud Computing World Forum 2012 will showcase the who, why and how.

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View the full Seminar Agenda for the Cloud Computing World Forum 2012